PSALTER

Selected Psalms in Russian Translation (translated from the Septuagint)

Contents: General information about the book of psalms. King David. The prophetic and liturgical side of the Psalter. Translations of the Psalter. Selected Psalms Translated by 70 Interpreters. Index of selected psalms.

General information and history of the Psalter

It is no exaggeration to say that for a Christian the Psalter is the most precious book of the Old Testament. The Psalter is a book of prayers for all occasions: in sorrow, in a sense of hopelessness, in fear, in distress, in tears of repentance and in joy after receiving consolation, in the need for thanksgiving and for offering pure praise to the Creator. St. Ambrose of Milan writes: "In all Scripture the grace of God breathes, but in the sweet song of the Psalms it breathes predominantly."

The Psalter received its name from the Greek word "psalo," which means to rattle on the strings, to play. King David was the first to accompany the singing of the divinely inspired prayers composed by him by playing a musical instrument called the psalter, similar to a harp. The Hebrews call the book of Psalms Tehillim, which means "praise."

The Psalter, composed over the course of 8 centuries – from Moses (1500 years B.C.). to Ezra-Nehemiah (400 B.C.), contains 150 psalms. King David laid the foundation for this book, compiling the largest number of psalms (more than 80). In addition to David's, the Psalter includes the following psalms: Moses – one (Psalm 89), Solomon – three (Psalms 71, 126 and 131), Asaph the Seer and his descendants, the Asaphites – twelve; Heman, one (87th), Epham, one (88th), and the sons of Korah, eleven. The rest of the psalms belong to unknown writers. The Psalms are composed according to the rules of Hebrew poetry and often attain amazing beauty and power.

Often at the beginning of the Psalms there are inscriptions that indicate their content: for example, "prayer" (a psalm of petition), "praise" (a psalm of praise), "teaching" (an edifying psalm), or a method of writing: "pillar," i.e. epigrammatic. Other inscriptions indicate the method of performance, for example: "psalm" - i.e. with accompaniment on a musical instrument - psalter; "song" — i.e. vocal performance by voice; "on string instruments;" "on the octopstring;" "about the winepress" or in the Russian Bible "on the Gath tool" — i.e. on the zither; "about changeable" — i.e. with a change of instruments. Above some of the psalms are inscribed the words of the song on the model of which this psalm is to be sung, something like "similar" in the evening and morning services.

The Psalter was for the most part already the final book in ancient Russian education, necessary not only for clergymen, but also for lay people. The works of Theodosius of the Caves, Metropolitan Hilarion, Cyril of Turov, Serapion of Vladimir, and Vladimir Monomakh are full of references to the Psalms and sayings from them. Its influence is very palpable in folk proverbs. The Psalms were transcribed by almost all our poets of the 18th century; from the poets of the 19th century - Khomyakov, Yazykov and others.